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ASBA calendar

School Laws Annotated update set for pre-ordering

With the close of the 94th Arkansas General Assembly, ASBA has begun producing the 2023-2024 Arkansas School Laws Annotated. Pre-ordering for the publication will begin in June.

The unit cost for each copy will remain $75 with shipping costs included. ASBA will offer an electronic version of the publication at the same unit cost.

With the sweeping educational reforms produced during the session set to be enacted, the book is certain to be a valuable resource at both district and building levels. Here are a few reasons to consider purchasing a copy.

• ASBA Model Policy Service. If your district subscribes to ASBA’s Model Policy Service, the publication is an excellent resource for employees working on policy manuals. While the service provides response guidance, it does not restate laws. The book also provides context and annotation that provides history of the laws over time.

479.455.5577 modusstudio.com contact@modusstudio.com

It happens with direct intent. It is the example you set, the empathy you share, and the excellence you expect.

An Early Bird Workshop will kick off the event on Sunday, July 16.

Registration is $135 per person. General and breakout sessions start on Monday, July 17.

Registration prior to June 29 is $545 per person (spouses and guests– $199). After June 29, the registration fee will be $565. Registration fees include breakfast on Monday and Tuesday and lunch on Monday.

Register at ASBA’s website at www. arsba.org/article/1039720

• DIY? Oh, my! Using a search engine to gather information on education law and policy seems tempting. Yes, that’s a great way to compare items when planning a purchase for your district, researching professional development opportunities, or reading reviews on service companies.

But ask an attorney if they conduct legal research using this method. The answer is likely to be a solid NO. Legal research needs to be reliable and current. Even one of the best free search engines, Google Scholar, contains a disclaimer about its content not being a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. Sure, there are paid subscription services that attorneys use for legal research, but they are expensive. The ASBA School Laws Annotated is available at a fraction of the cost.

• Regulatory Issues. The publication is also accepted as a common frame of reference used by school administrators, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Arkansas Legislative Audit. During audits, it is always a good idea to be on the same page – literally!

ASBA does not order copies beyond those pre-ordered. To guarantee copies for your district, watch for details in your inbox and check ASBA’s website for more information.

ASBA moves to new membership database by July 1

ASBA began transitioning to a new custom database beginning in June. eMembership, the current database, will be phased out by July 1.

Major changes include:

• The addition of a mobile version to view board member records and training.

• Districts can view past and future attendance and registration in one place.

• Prior-year reports for board member training that can be exported to Microsoft Excel.

ASBA has been offering free tutorial webinars for school district staff prior to the discontinuation Board members were receiving login credentials and a tutorial recording in mid-June via email.

Board members without an email address will be unable to log in to the new database. To ensure we have your current email address, check with your district central office or email Kathy Ivy at kivy@arsba.org.

School candidate filing to be in August

Candidate filing for the fall 2023 elections will open Aug. 9 and close at noon Aug. 16. School Election Day is Nov. 14. Early voting begins Nov. 7. Other fall dates worth noting include Sept. 5 being the deadline to notify the county clerk about millage information, and Sept. 15 being the deadline to publish the proposed budget.